CWC meeting on Wednesday to discuss drought situation

As drought in the country threatens to cast a shadow over Congress’ electoral prospects in the forthcoming assembly polls in four states, the CWC at its meeting on Wednesday will ask the government to speed up measures to tackle the situation.

As drought in the country threatens to cast a shadow over Congress’ electoral prospects in the forthcoming assembly polls in four states, the CWC at its meeting on Wednesday will ask the government to speed up measures to tackle the situation.

The Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest policy-making body, has also invited Chief Ministers of party-ruled states to facilitate wider interaction on the matter.

The country has witnessed rainfall deficiency of 29 per cent and the number of districts reeling under drought or drought-like condition has gone up to 207.

The CWC had discussed the issue of price rise at its meeting in June when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had explained to the members the international economic scenario vis-a-vis the status of economy in the country.

With summer crops being affected because of deficient rains, the party apprehends that prices of foodgrains could rise further if winter crops too are hit.

The CWC meeting takes place days after the AICC expressed concern over price rise and asked the Government to take concrete steps to make available essential commodities.

Only last week, the party’s top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi, had deliberated on the issue at a Congress Core Group meeting.

The meeting comes at a time when assembly elections in four states, Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh , are expected soon. Of these, Maharashtra and Jharkhand have declared drought, partly or wholly.